1 in custody, 3 injured after active shooter incident at Rigby Middle School
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RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) - UPDATE 5:30 p.m. Idaho Falls Police and the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office are assisting the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office serving a search warrant at a residence in Idaho Falls relating to the Rigby Middle School shooting incident.
UPDATE 4:00 p.m. Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson said at a press conference Thursday at approximately 9:08 a.m., a sixth-grade female student retrieved a handgun from her backpack and fired multiple rounds inside the school and out.
She injured two students and a school employee. Two victims were shot inside, and one was shot outside.
He said during the shooting, a teacher disarmed the student and detained her until law enforcement took her into custody.
Dr. Michael Lemon, trauma medical director at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, said all three received non-life-threatening extremity injuries. He said the adult has been treated and released. The bullet went cleanly through the limb, he said. The two pediatric patients are in fair condition and will be monitored overnight.
He said one pediatric patient was shot once in an extremity and may require surgery in the future. The second was potentially shot twice. There were two injuries: one to an upper extremity and one to a lower extremity.
Officials said the three are expected to survive their injuries.
"This is a very difficult and trying time for our community," Anderson said. "We've had amazing support from partners across the state that have arrived to not only assist in the investigation but give us support with what we need."
He said the details of the investigation are being thoroughly investigated right now by Idaho State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Bonneville Sheriff's Office, the FBI, Idaho Falls Police Department, Rigby Police Department, Rexburg Police Department and Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Anderson said the student lives in Idaho Falls but attends Rigby Middle School. He didn't release her name.
Anderson said they do not have a lot of details as to why this happened. He said they are following all leads.
"This is the worst nightmare a school district could ever face," Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin said. "We prepare for it, but we are never truly ready for it. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the victims and their families and all those involved."
Jefferson School District 251 will not have school Friday.
"We want to especially thank our community," Martin said. "The vast support we have received is overwhelming, and we are grateful to live in a community that cares about their students, schools and are willing to offer that support."
Sheriff Anderson said the female is in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at this time.
Prosecutor Mark Taylor said they will not be making any definitive prosecuting decisions until the investigation is complete. He said appropriate charges will be filed at that time, and the charges that could be filed are three counts of attempted murder.
The attack appears to be Idaho's second school shooting. In 1999, a student at a high school in Notus fired a shotgun several times. No one was struck by the gunfire, but one student was injured by ricocheting debris from the first shell.
In 1989, a student at Rigby Junior High pulled a gun, threatened a teacher and students, and took a 14-year-old girl hostage, according to a Deseret News report. Police safely rescued the hostage from a nearby church about an hour later and took the teen into custody. No one was shot in that incident.
UPDATE 1:50 p.m. Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center has released an update regarding all three patients' condidtions.
EIRMC says the adult patient has been treated and released, and both pediatric patients are in fair condition.
EIRMC will be joining the Jefferson County Sheriff and Jefferson School District Superintendent during a press conference at 4 p.m. You can watch it HERE.
Jefferson School District said all schools will be closed Friday, but counselors will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Rigby High School. Counselors will continue to be available as needed. School will resume on Monday, May 10.
UPDATE: A shooting at Rigby Middle School Thursday injured two students and a custodian, and a student has been taken into custody, authorities said. Watch a press conference at 4 p.m. HERE.
Police were called to the school around 9:15 a.m. Multiple law enforcement agencies were on scene.
Two students and one adult suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Central Fire Chief Carl Anderson says they were taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. EIRMC said there are no condition status updates at this time.
"Today we had the worst nightmare a school district could encounter. We had a school shooting here at Rigby Middle School," Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin said. "What we know so far is the shooter has been apprehended. There is no further threat to the students."
Bonneville County Sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Lovell said the investigation is still underway and no additional information was available. He said the school was still in the process of accounting for and releasing all the students.
Students from the middle school are currently being evacuated to Rigby High School, where parents may pick them up.
Students who are not picked up will be bussed home.
"I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in today's tragic events," Gov. Brad Little said in a prepared statement. "Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident."
The attack appears to be Idaho's second school shooting. In 1999, a student at a high school in Notus fired a shotgun several times. No one was struck by the bullets, but one student was injured by ricocheting debris from the first shell.
In 1989, a student at Rigby Junior High pulled a gun, threatened a teacher and students, and took a 14-year-old girl hostage, according to a Deseret News report. Police safely rescued the hostage from a nearby church about an hour later and took the teen into custody. No one was shot in that incident.
“My prayers are with those injured this morning at Rigby Middle School," Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said. "I am grateful to our first responders and school staff who are working to deal with this terrible incident. I will do everything I can to support the district and the community moving forward.”
"We send positive thoughts to the victims of this tragic incident and hope for their full and rapid recovery," Idaho Education Association President Layne McInelly said. "Patience will need to be at a premium while school officials and law enforcement agencies investigate the situation. The IEA and our local education associations are ready, willing, and able to provide whatever support is needed for the staff, students, and community impacted by today’s act of violence."
Rigby Middle SchooI. Idahoans want to help. Showing up is NOT helpful. Praying and sending good thoughts is NEVER inappropriate. If you wish to DO something, deliver water bottles/individually wrapped snacks to: Upper Valley Child Advocacy Center at 162 N. Yellowstone in Rigby. pic.twitter.com/ej7Zlk6WjV
— Rebecca Noah Casper (@RLNCasper) May 6, 2021
ORIGINAL: Police and ambulances are on the scene of an incident at Rigby Middle School.
There are three confirmed victims, but there is no word on their condition. Police say the parents of the victims have been notified, so if you haven't heard from police, your child was not hurt.
Parents can come pick your kids up at Rigby High School.
Police say a suspect is in custody.
Police are still searching the school.
The district sent out an email to parents.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as information is released.
